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Creating Openings
inUnbonded
Post-Tensioned Slabs
By Don Kline
There are two types of openings that are commonly cut into existing slabs: small penetrations
and large openings. Small penetrations are those
that can be cut into a slab without affecting any of
the existing PT tendons; conversely, large openings
are those that require the cutting of existing tendons.
Small Penetrations
As a general rule, it can be assumed that the
effect of small penetrations will be negligible and
that the slab will behave similar to the slab without
penetrations, provided that:
1. None of the existing PT strands are cut during
the coring of the penetration;
2. The opening is located not less than 10 times the
slab thickness from a supporting column;
3. The opening is not located near a concentrated
load; and
4. The opening or group of openings does not
significantly reduce the effective flange area for
a supporting beam.
When applying this general rule, good judgment
should be exercised. A large number of small openings in a concentrated area can have a significant
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Large Openings
Sometimes it is necessary to create large openings
in a slab for stairwells or large duct shafts between
floors. Creating a large opening in a PT slab will
result in several PT strands being interrupted by the
new opening. An engineer should be consulted to
analyze the effect that the new opening will have on
the slab. The slab with the new opening should be
analyzed in accordance with ACI 318-08,2 Section
13.4.1. The analysis should show that strength is
adequate and that all serviceability conditions,
including stress limitations and deflections, are met.
ACI 318-08,2 Section 13.4.2, allows for the
creation of openings in existing slabs without the
need for special analysis; however, it requires that
an amount of reinforcement equivalent to the
amount that is interrupted by the opening be added
on either side of the opening. Hence, in lieu of
special analysis, slab strengthening would be
required to restore the original reinforcing and this
would be required whether the slab is reinforced
with mild steel or post-tensioning.
It is important for the design team to understand
the implications of locating new openings in certain
critical regions. Bhatti et al.3 discussed how large
openings can be cut in certain regions of the slab
without adversely affecting structural safety, serviceability, and integrity. For two-way flat plates
and flat slabs, the most desirable region for openings
is at the intersection of the two orthogonal middle
strips (Area 1 in Fig. 1). The least desirable location
is adjacent to a column, where punching shear
capacity can be severely reduced (Area 3 in Fig. 1).
Although column strips and middle strips are not
commonly used in PT design, these terms, as
defined in ACI 318-08,2 Chapter 13, are useful for
identifying regions in a two-way slab panel.
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The structural analysis will determine if strengthening is required for the slab. Strengthening of the
slab can be achieved by4:
Span shortening: Creating new intermediate
supports to reduce span length.
Section enlargements: Increasing the slab depth
or adding a concrete beam to increase strength
and stiffness.
Externally bonded reinforcement: Bonding steel
plates or fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) to the
slab can create a new composite section that
increases strength and stiffness.
External post-tensioning: Providing additional
prestress force into the slab using post-tensioning
that is external to the slab.
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Credits
This article is based on a Post-Tensioning Institute publication, Creating Openings and Penetrations in Unbonded Post-Tensioned Slabs, authored
by Don Kline, Kline Engineering & Consulting,
LLC. For a more comprehensive discussion of this
topic, the reader is encouraged to review this publication and the following references.
References
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